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Don Golden Obituary
Family-Placed Death Notice
DON AND DEBBIE GOLDEN Joint Funeral services will be Held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 27, 2005 at the First United Methodist Church for Don Golden age 54 and his wife Debbie age 53 of Gainesville. Interment will follow in the Alta Vista Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at the Mason-Ward-Rogers Funeral Home from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Don and Debbie died Sunday, October 23, 2005 at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Debbie was born in Houston County, Georgia and had lived in Hall County for a number of years. She was employed by the Gainesville City School System and the Hall County School System where she had worked as a teacher and at the present time was working at the Mt. Vernon Elementary School as a counselor. She is preceded in death by her father, Jean Edwards Hays. Don was born in Lowndes County, GA and had lived in Hall County for a number of years. He was presently employed at North Forsyth High School where he was a teacher and football coach. He had also worked at Gainesvaille High school, Jackson County High School (Head Football Coach), North Hall High School (Head Football Coach). Don also played football at the University of Georgia where he was a punter. Before college, he played on the 1969 Valdosta High School national championship football team. He is preceded in death by his mother, Lillian H. Golden. Survivors include their children: Christy Golden Recinella and her husband, T.J. of Nashville, TN, Kelly Elizabeth Golden, Gainesville; granddaughter, Sophie Recinella, Nashville, TN. Debbie's mother, Joann Hays, Snellville, GA, Debbie's sister, Cindy Wilborn, Snellville, GA; a niece, Caroline and nephews: Blake, Cliff and Grant Nealey, all of Athens. Don's survivors other than the children include his father, William H. Golden, Sr., Valdosta; brother and sister-in-law, Bill Jr., and Peggy Golden, East Point, GA, sisters and brothers-in-law: Ann and Billy Embry, Lynn and Calvin Nolan, all of Valdosta, GA, nieces and spouse, Debbie and Barney Hamlin, Fitzgerald, GA, Kim Shiver, Hahira, GA, nephews and spouses, Trey and Amy Golden, Gary Golden, Bo and Lisa Willis, Chris and Valerie Embry, Kevin and Roz Nolan and numerous great nieces and nephews. Mason-Ward-Rogers Funeral Home, Gainesville, GA.
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Memories and Condolences
for Don Golden
Martha Giddens Nesbit
November 2, 2005
Dear Golden Family,
I knew your dad in high school at Valdosta High. He played football and I was a cheerleader. He was so handsome and polite and talented. I know you will miss them both. God bless your family.
Leigh Ghorley
October 28, 2005
I can't stop thinking of you. May the Lord wrap his mighty hand around you all and hold you close. The Lord will give you strength during this difficult time. I can't possibly imagine what you are going through.
Van Norris
October 27, 2005
My deepest sympathy to the family. God Be With You and give you strength during your time of grief. Don coached my nephew David Barrett Jr. in football at North Hall High School, Gainesville, Ga. This was how I came to meet Don & Debbie Golden. A great respect for them both.
Tim and Lynda Garrett
October 27, 2005
My deepest condolences are with your family at this very difficult time. It is a terrible thing to lose a parent in an accident, or anything else, but to lose them both at the same time is a tragedy. God be with you and strengthen you during your time of grief.
Don coached our son Jason throughout his high school years. All the boys had a great respect for him.
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glen holcombe
October 27, 2005
My thoughts and prayers are with all the family. A great loss to your family and a great loss to the Wildcat and Bulldog nations. I'm sure Don and Coach Bazemore are talking football.
Sandy Moore
October 27, 2005
My family has been touched by the sudden and tragic loss of 2 very special people. Coach Golden taught me and my 2 siblings at Gainesville High in the 1980's. We all loved and respected him for his classroom abilities along with his work with the football and baseball teams. My son is now a 3rd grade student at Mt. Vernon Elementary, where we came to know Debbie. We survived the kindergarten experience with her patience and guidance and I will always be grateful for her assistance. I know Stephen respects and appreciates her help as he speaks often of her. God Bless Christy and Kelly and all of your family. We are praying for you now and in the days to come.
Deborah Porterfield
October 27, 2005
May God bless you and may you be surrounded by the memory of Don and Debbie's love as it comforts you and brings you peace.
I had the pleasure of watching Don play football at UGA and much later teaching with him in Jackson County. He and Debbie were special people.My heart goes out to you and you will be in my prayers.
Sandra Sailors
October 27, 2005
You all are in my prayers. I taught with Coach Golden at Jackson County High School. I also attended UGA with him. I knew you ladies when you were younger.Debbie was a special person just as Don. May God bless you all and I feel honored to have had them as my friends.
Sandra Sailors
Bernice Edwards
October 26, 2005
Joann Hays. Although I did not know Debbie and Don, they must have been very special and loved by all.It has not been very long since I lost a daughter so I feel your pain and sorrow. My sincere sympathy to your family. Bernice Edwards
Beth & Danny Manus
October 26, 2005
Our thoughts & prayers go out to Don & Debbie's family.
Cuyler Trussell Dupree
October 26, 2005
Dear Golden family-I was saddened to hear about what happened to Debbie and Don. He was much more than a kicker at Georgia-he was the type of player Coach Dooley valued so much-he was a backup quarterback, and also played defense- he never complained-he went out and did his best. He will be missed by so many-God Bless and keep you always
Ray Caldwell
October 26, 2005
Don and Debbie will always be dear to me. Don taught me countless things about sports as well as life. In the years I worked with him, he was always the consummate gentleman. Debbie's smile could make troubles fade as fast as they had come. What a beautiful person. I am forever honored to have been associated with them in any way.
Jeff, Lynn, Colby & Courtney Wagoner
October 26, 2005
Coach Golden was a great person. We are very sorry for your loss and will keep you in our prayers
Daisy McClarty
October 26, 2005
When the Lord calls our loved ones home, he leaves a gift of memories in exchange. Memories are the legacy of love.
Sincerely,
D.S. McClarty
Alison Baxter
October 26, 2005
Dear Cindy and family, my thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this very sad time. May good memories warm your hearts. Gods Speed, Al/Alison Baxter.
Jennifer Hulsey
October 26, 2005
My deepest condolances are with your family at this very difficult time. I learned about it on the Coal Mountain Baptist Church prayer chain.
God bless,
Jennifer Hulsey
Smyrna GA
Teffany Pierce Sr.
October 26, 2005
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Golden family. Don & Debbie, played a big part in my life and I would like to thank you for sharing them both. Debbie, could give kind words to lift any one up in a time of trouble. Don for showing me how to over come fear and reaching my goals. There lifes touched many of us in such a special way. They will never be for gotten.
Carol Smith
October 26, 2005
You are in my thoughts and prayers. I had the gift of an afternoon with Debbie last Wednesday. I will treasure that gift forever.
Carol Smith, retired Mt.Vernon teacher
Debbie Owens
October 26, 2005
Deepest Sympathies to the family.
Sarah Hutchinson Bundschuh
October 26, 2005
With deepest sympathy to the family and friends.
Edward & Jean Mize
October 26, 2005
Our Deepest Prayers are with all the family at this time. Don was a visitor in our home when he was at UGA and we have fond memories. Keep yours close to you and Don & Debbie will be there also. Ed & Jean
Kristal Richards
October 26, 2005
Kelly,
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please call me if you ever need anything.
Love
Kristal Richards
Herman Jones
October 26, 2005
With deepest smypathies to the Golden Family.
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